Westbrook’s monster game propels Wizards
Harden’s triple-double lifts Nets over Timberwolves
WASHINGTON — Russell Westbrook had 35 points, a season-high 21 assists and 14 rebounds for his NBA-leading 16th tripledouble, helping the Washington Wizards to a 132-124 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Westbrook also claimed the franchise career triple-double record in just his 38th game with the Wizards, this one coming while teammate and NBA leading scorer Bradley Beal sat out with a bruised hip. Darrell Walker had 15 triple-doubles in 283 games for Washington between 1987-1991.
Rui Hachimura scored 26 points and Chandler Hutchison had 18 in his debut with the Wizards, who won their second straight after losing eight of nine.
Domantas Sabonis had 35 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers.
Indiana entered in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two games ahead of Chicago for the 10th and final play-in spot. The Pacers are now four games ahead of the Wizards, who began the day in 13th.
NETS 112, T-WOLVES 107: In New York, James Harden had 38 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, already tying the Nets’ singleseason record with his 12th triple-double in just 32 games, and Brooklyn held off Minnesota.
Kyrie Irving added 27 points in his return after missing the three-game road trip last week for family reasons. He started fast, but Harden did the biggest work late, with 13 points in the final period.
Hall of Famer Jason Kidd had 12 tripledoubles for the Nets in both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
The Nets won for the 18th time in 21 games. Karl-Anthony Towns had 31 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves.
MAVERICKS 127, THUNDER 106: In Oklahoma City, Luka Doncic scored 25 points to help Dallas roll past the Thunder.
Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 19 points for the Mavericks. Dallas shot 53% from the field and never trailed in snapping a two-game losing skid.
Aleksej Pokusevski led Oklahoma City with 21 points. Oklahoma City was down three starters -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (plantar fasciitis, right foot), Darius Bazley (left shoulder contusion) and Lu Dort (concussion).
PELICANS 115, CELTICS 109: In Boston, Zion Williamson scored 28 points and New Orleans held on after blowing most of a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead to beat Boston in the Celtics’ first game in front of their home fans since before the pandemic.
A masked crowd of 2,198 — officially a sellout at the state-mandated limit of 12% of the TD Garden capacity — cheered (and booed) the Celtics, who got 34 points from Jayson Tatum.
HEAT 98, KNICKS 88: In New York, Jimmy Butler scored 27 points and the Miami Heat snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over the Knicks.
Bam Adebayo scored 20 points, Duncan Robinson added 20, and Tyler Herro finished with 18 as Miami improved to 23-24. Julius Randle led New York with 22.
PISTONS 116, RAPTORS 104: In Detroit, Saben Lee scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half in his second career start, and the Pistons beat Toronto.
Saddiq Bey, another Detroit rookie, also scored 19 points and Hamidou Diallo added 19 of his own. Fred VanVleet scored 22 for the Raptors, who lost for the 12th time in 13 games.
JAZZ 114, CAVALIERS 75: in Salt Lake City, Donovan Mitchell scored 19 points and Rudy Gobert added 18 points and 17 rebounds to power Utah to its sixth straight win.
Mike Conley contributed 18 points for the Jazz, who have won 20 straight at home. Collin Sexton scored 20 points for the Cavs.
GRIZZLIES 120, ROCKETS 110: In Houston, Jonas Valanciunas scored a seasonhigh 30 points, including eight down the stretch, and added 15 rebounds to help Memphis outlast Houston.
Jae’Sean Tate scored 24 points and Kelly Olynyk had a season high 25 points to lead the Rockets.
KINGS 132, SPURS 115: In San Antonio, De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points, Richaun Holmes had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Sacramento beat San Antonio for its fifth straight victory.
Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray scored 23 points.
CLIPPERS 129, BUCKS 105: In Los Angeles, Marcus Morris scored 25 points and three other starters had at least 20 points, helping Los Angeles beat Milwaukee for the Clippers’ sixth straight victory.
Kawhi Leonard added 23 points and nine rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 32 points.
WARRIORS 116, BULLS 102: In San Francisco, Stephen Curry made a triumphant return from a five-game absence with a bruised tailbone to score 32 points with six 3-pointers, and Golden State snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Chicago.